Click 👉Today In History (general history) May 18.
On This Day In Confederate History, May 18.
1861: The Battle of Sewell's Point, Virginia occurs when the Federal gunboat USS Monticello, with the support of the USS Thomas Freeborn, exchange fire beginning on this day and continuing to the 21st. The Confederates have three 32-pounders manned by Captain Peyton H. Colquitt and the Columbus Light Guard of Georgia. They fought under a Georgia state flag since they had no Confederate flag yet. The artillery duel did little damage to either side. This engagement coincided with the blockage of the Rappahannock River.
1863: The Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. officially begins with the arrival of Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant before the city with his Army of the Tennessee. Grant started the siege with 32,000 men, but that number will increase to 77,000 over the course of the siege. Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton has only 18,500 men at the beginning, but he manages to rally and reorganize his demoralized men from the Battle of Champion's Hill and increases his numbers to 33,000. His fortifications are among the most formidable of the war. Pemberton has four divisions under Maj. Gens. Carter L. Stevenson, John H. Forney, Martin L. Smith, and John S. Bowen. Grant has six corps under Maj. Gens. John Parke, John A. McClernand, William T. Sherman, Cadwallader C. Washburn, and James B. McPherson.
1864: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Va. reaches its zenith in bloodshed with Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant launching two Federal army corps against Gen. Robert E. Lee's now strengthened breastworks on the Confederate left flank, and the Federals suffer another devastating repulse.
The Battle of Yellow Bayou, La. is the last battle in the long drawn out Red River Campaign, which ends with another Confederate victory, although a pyrrhic one. Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor reported, "We drove the enemy handsomely on our right, killing all the horses and most of the gunners of a battery, and forcing the enemy to abandon it. On the left, near the De Glaize, we were severely repulsed and were forced to arrest the progress of our rights. General Polignac restored order in his left brigade after a time, McMahan's battery preventing the enemy from following up on his success in this part of the field. We held the field, on which the enemy, who fell back at once, left 30 dead. Our loss will reach 500, of which 30 were killed, 50 severely wounded, and some hundred prisoners taken from the left brigade. The remaining wounds are of a trifling character. Among the killed, I regret to include Colonel [Robert] Stone, of Polignac's old brigade, a gallant and promising officer." Taylor also noted his army had been constantly fighting for 70 days. The Consolidated 18th Louisiana Infantry of Mouton's Louisiana Brigade on the Confederate is commanded by Maj. Gen. John Wharton for having signally routed the enemy on the Confederate right. Total Federal casualties are given as 360. Overall in the entire campaign, both in Louisiana and Arkansas, are 8,162 for the Federals, and 6,575 for the Confederates. The Confederates also have a net gain of 17 to 26 artillery pieces and 600 wagons. Texas and western Louisiana families remain safe, unoccupied, and with no other major invasions during the rest of the war.
Confederate General Birthdays, May 18.
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